Víctor Font, a presidential precandidate for FC Barcelona and leader of the Nosaltres platform, on Wednesday presented what he called a “revolution”: replacing a single sporting director with a trident to lead the sporting direction — analyst Carles Planchar, performance specialist Francesc Cos and youth coach Alber Puig. Font said the aim is stability and professionalisation, relying on people “from the house” who know the club and have worked both at Barça and elsewhere, with experience alongside top coaches like Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique. The presentation revolved around the value of La Masia.
In his scheme there is no place for Deco — Font had hinted at that days earlier. Shortly after, Hansi Flick publicly backed the current sporting director: “I am very happy with Deco. I have confidence in him. We look for the same players and we have the same philosophy. He lets us work.” Font has not yet spoken with Flick; he said he will if elected on March 16. He also confessed that his trident has already been active in the market.
The proposed structure, intended to be “cross‑cutting,” would serve the men’s first team, the women’s team and the youth setup. Each member would oversee one pillar: Planchar the technical direction, Cos the performance area and Puig the youth academy. Planchar — described as an analyst for Guardiola’s teams for 18 years — stressed the need for early talent identification and well‑balanced squads with top international players to keep winning consistently.
Puig would take charge of La Masia; he led Barça’s formative football between 2010 and 2014. To boost the academy, his plan foresees investing €50 million annually in this structure (currently estimated at around €30 million). Francesc Cos, performance director at City Football Group and previously 12 years a fitness coach at Barça’s first team, aims to restore the role of head of sporting performance, create an R&D department and implement a methodology based on communication and internal coordination.
The presentation came hours after another precandidate, Marc Ciria, displayed a banner with Lionel Messi in central Barcelona, evoking a possible return after his traumatic departure early in Laporta’s mandate. Font said he also has plans concerning the Argentine: “In Messi’s case, the will is to reconcile as a club and as Barcelona supporters,” and he said they will soon present a plan they have been working on for two years to reconnect with Messi, who has chosen to stay out of the elections, although his figure remains present.
